Northcott Theatre

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions  (a) he,  (b) his Department and  (c) his predecessor have had with the Minister for the South West on funding for the Northcott Theatre in Exeter.

Margaret Hodge: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had no discussions on this matter with the Minister for the South West.
	The Department has received two letters from the Minister for the South West (Mr. Bradshaw) in his capacity as a constituency Member about the Northcott Theatre and there has been one telephone conversation between the Minister for the South West and a senior official at the Department.
	My right hon. Friend the Member for Stalybridge and Hyde (James Purnell) and the Minister for the South West briefly discussed the matter in December.
	It has been explained in all discussions that the Arts Council operates at arm's length from the Government and decisions about which arts organisations to fund are entirely for them.